Netflix’s upcoming Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley and its Location Manager Dan Cooley took home Location Manager of the Year and Location Team of the Year awards in the Studio Feature category at the 28th annual California on Location Awards (COLAs) presented by Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) on December 1st at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. The Independent Feature category was similarly swept by The Greatest Hits, which clinched awards for Location Manager (Justin Hill) and Location Team.
More than 650 supporters of California-based production attended this year’s awards ceremony to recognize exceptional location managers and teams, public employees, and production companies that help facilitate on-location filming across the Golden State.
For the Television Episodic 1-Hour category, top honors went to Daisy Jones & The Six for Location Manager (Jay Traynor) and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty for Location Team. Episodic ½-Hour Location Manager honors went to High Desert (Stacey Brashear), while Minx won for Location Team. Awards were also presented for in multiple Public Employee of the Year categories.
See below for the complete list of 2023 COLA winners.
This year’s finalists represented 34 feature film, TV series and commercial projects, including 25 projects that filmed exclusively in California and eight shot entirely on location. Filming occurred over an aggregate 1,837 in-state shoot days (74% on location) at 899 separate locations.
“The COLAs celebrate the incredible endurance, flexibility and creativity that location managers and other professionals bring to diverse projects filmed in California,” said FLICS President and Film Shasta Film Commissioner Sabrina Jurisich. “We are also grateful for the jobs and economic opportunity such projects bring to communities statewide.”
Presented by the FLICS, the COLAs have grown to become the premiere awards program and industry event focused on celebrating the contributions of California location professionals. Finalists and winners are determined FLICS members, a steering committee of Teamsters Local 399 members, and a panel of industry experts. This year’s awards ceremony was hosted by actor and comedian Chinedu Unaka and produced by Dyana Carmella.
Presenting Sponsors for the 2023 California on Location Awards include Film Lancaster, Fox Studio Lot, Golden Oak Ranch, Studio Air and Power, and Teamsters Local 399. Gold Level Sponsors include the California Film Commission, Pacific Production Services/Pacific Traffic Control, Quixote, Riverside County Film Commission, Santa Clarita Film Office, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. An updated list of all 2023 COLA sponsors is available at https://colaawards.com/2023-sponsors.
For more information, visit ColaAwards.com.
COLA 2023 Winners:
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – STUDIO FEATURE
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley: Dan Cooley
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR – STUDIO FEATURE
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley: Dan Cooley, Supervising Location Manager, Rick Surad, Location Manager 2nd Unit, Bryan Diaz, Location Manager, Leslie Stout Glennon, Key Assistant Location Manager, Ben McCrea, Key Assistant Location Manager, Ahmet Elez, Key Assistant Location Manager, Tony Rizza, Key Assistant Location Manager, Brian Deming, Key Assistant Location Manager, John Blake, Key Assistant Location Manager, Hannah Dorfman, Assistant Location Manager, Jonathan Diaz, Assistant Location Manager, Kevin Danchisko, Key Assistant Location Manager 2nd Unit, Omar Masmoudi, Key Assistant Location Manager 2nd Unit
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – INDEPENDENT FEATURE
The Greatest Hits: Justin Hill
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR – INDEPENDENT FEATURE
The Greatest Hits: Justin Hill, Supervising Location Manager, Justin Louie, Key Assistant Location Manager, Jill Naumann, Key Assistant Location Manager, Clay Dodder, Key Assistant Location Manager, Norman Galeas, Key Assistant Location Manager, Brittany Anders, Key Assistant Location Manager, Michael Bryant, Key Assistant Location Manager, Paul Brady, Key Assistant Location Manager, Lucien Unruh, Assistant Location Manager, Sarah Hwang, Assistant Location Manager, Guy Morrison, Key Assistant Location Manager, Dana Reiko Barenfeld
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – EPISODIC TV – 1 HOUR
Daisy Jones & The Six: Jay Traynor
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR – EPISODIC TV – 1 HOUR
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Season 2: Gregory H. Alpert, Supervising Location Manager, Brian S. Kalata, Location Manager, Matthew Bolin, Key Assistant Location Manager, J.P. O’Connor, Key Assistant Location Manager, Sam Gomez, Key Assistant Location Manager, Miles Beal-Ampah, Key Assistant Location Manager, Shelly Armstrong, Location Department Coordinator, André Balderamos, Key Assistant Location Manager, Shaka Terry, Key Assistant Location Manager, Shawn Hueston, Key Assistant Location Manager, Julian Stephens, Assistant Location Manager, Whitney Breite, Assistant Location Manager
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – EPISODIC TV – 1/2 HOUR
High Desert: Stacey Brashear
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR– EPISODIC TV – 1/2 HOUR
Minx: Jason Kaplon, Supervising Location Manager, Mike Parisi, Key Assistant Location Manager, J. Hanna, Location Manager, Taylor Moore, Key Assistant Location Manager, Brielle Fraser, Assistant Location Manager, Jessica Aichs, Key Assistant Location Manager, Michael Holmes, Key Assistant Location Manager, John Nabet, Key Assistant Location Manager, Jasmin Paris, Key Assistant Location Manager
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – COMMERCIALS
Visit California “Kidifornia Family Vacation”: Weston Marsh
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – CITY
City of Palm Springs: Janice Lopez, Program Coordinator & Film Permit Officer
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – COUNTY
Riverside County Transportation Department: Melissa Martinez
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – FEDERAL
Bureau of Land Management: John Thomas, Park Ranger
ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – FEATURE
Joker: Folie à Deux: Sheila Ryan-Cruz
ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – TELEVISION
Daisy Jones & the Six: Courtney Ochoa
About Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS)
Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) is a 501(c) 6 non-profit professional association founded in 1988 to promote filming across the Golden State. More than 40-member film commissions/film offices work with the California Film Commission to attract, retain and facilitate production via location assistance, permits, resources, and local knowledge —all at no charge. More information about FLICS is available at https://www.filmcalifornia.com/
